Basket



Nov. 20, 1934. 1 c. c. NucKoLs BASKET 2 Sheets--Shcee- 2 Filed Ma'ICh 23. 1935 5 e ./v W M d /I 2 I IH! 0. w w. p, |W@ k mf 5 5 #V/ 0 MW/ A/uM//v 2 a n a H. 7. o I l l I* Q w L@ l .\1 2v l1 u m WCM ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 20, 1934 BASKET Claude C. Nuckols, Menands, N. Y., assignor to Albany Corrugated Container Corp., Albany, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 28, 1933, serial No. 662,827

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to baskets and more particularly to a construction in which delicate fruitsor fragile articles can be packed and transported without being crushed or otherwise injured.

In packing soft or delicate fruits, such as tomatoes, peaches, plums, pears, apples etc., as Well as fragile articles wood veneer baskets are usually employed, in which such articles are packed layer upon layer, with the result that the weight of the articles of one layer often crushes or otherwise injures the articles of the adjacent lower layer. Consequently when the articles are removed from the basket, it is not infrequently found necessary to separate the sound articles from the injured ones for special uses with a resultant loss to the purchaser of baskets of such merchandise.

It is therefore one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a basket for packing of articles of the above mentioned character, wherein each layer of said articles is supported by a removable partition in a manner whereby the above noted objections to the present day method of packing sucharticles is entirely eliminated.

One of the chief characteristics of the present invention resides in the novel construction of means employed for supporting one or more partitions by the walls of the basket to divide the latter into separate compartments.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a basket for the above mentioned purpose, which is simple in construction and thereof capable of being manufactured at a nominal cost.

In carrying out the invention the basket is provided with a cover of novel construction to permit the same to be quickly and conveniently associated with or removed froml the basket as the occasion requires, and supported by thebasket in a manner to allow the` latter to be filled above the height of the walls thereof, without the cover bearing against or crushing the articles contained in the basket, especially when the baskets are stacked one upon the other.

A further object of the invention resides in providing the cover with a transverse slot through which the handle of the basket projects when the cover is in position for use, together with a novel construction of means for holding the cover fixed upon the basket and yet permit the cover to be quickly and easily removed when desired.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be `better understood When the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrange.- nient of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of thisapplication like numerals o freferenoe indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein:

Figure 1v is a perspective View ofthe .invention showing the basket partlybroken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view with the cover. removed. f

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure- 1 Figure 4 is a plan View o f the blank from which the .body of` the basket is formed.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure slightly modified form.

Figure 6 is a similar form. g

Figure 17 is a section taken` on line `7---7 of Figure` 1. g

Before entering into a detail descriptionof what is illustrated in the drawings, I desire to have it understood that while the invention is primarily intended for packing and transporting delicate articles of fruit and fragile articles, it may be used for any and all other purposes found desirable and that its general application is contemplated by the claim. Consequently the basket in its entirety may vary in rsize and configuration without departing from the inventive idea.

The basket may also be constructed from any suitable material, preferably `corrugated cardboard, and the body of the basket is formed from a single blank ofmaterial indicatedgenerally at 10 in Figure 4. `This blank is scored along spaced parallel longitudinal and trans,- verse fold lines 11 andv 12 respectively, so that the blank *may* be folded toprovide opposed side and end walls 13 and14 respectively. Each end Wall is provided with extensions 15 lfoldable along score lines 16 so that said extensions can be arranged in right angular relation to the end walls and received Within the basket, lying against the adjacent side Walls 13 to which they are secured in any suitable manner as at 1'7. These extensions 15 therefore form part of the side walls 13 and serve to materially reinforce the body portion of the basket.

The invention comprehends the use of one or more partitions which divide the basket into separate compartments and are utilized to support the various layers of delicate fruit or fragile articles to prevent crushing or injury of the Bofa view of another modified oFFICE articles of one layer by the weight of the articles of the adjacent layer.

Various means may be employed for supportingthese partitions within the basket, and in accordance with one embodiment of the invention a foldable partition supporting flap 18 is cut fromeach extension 15 of the end Walls. After the extensions 15 have been secured to the side Walls in the formation of the body of the basket, the aps 18 are adapted to be arranged horizontally within the basket to support the partition 19 as illustrated in Figure 3. While this view shows the use of a single partition, it is of course understood that any number of partitions may be employed and spaced desired distances apart, depending uponr the particularl character or size of the articles packed in the basket. For instance, in Figure 5 I have illus-v trated the use of several partitions 21, each supported by foldable flaps 20 formed on the extensions 15 of the end walls. f Obviously these aps 20 of each extension are arranged in superimposed relation, and when cutting these lflaps from said extensions they can be arranged vany desired distance apart, depending of course uponthedesired size of the compartments dened by the partitions 21 supported by said aps.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated another modified form of the invention, wherein usejis made of a strip 22 secured to the side and end walls of the basket for supporting the partition 23. The Asupporting strip 22 may be of any suitable material, but is preferably' cardboard which can be stitched or otherwise suitably fastened to the walls of the basket. i

The basket is also equipped with a handle, preferably of inverted U-shaped formation, the cross member of which is indicated at 24 and the parallel members at 25. The parallel members 25 are secured to the side walls `in any suitable manner, and inasmuch as these members extend along'the entire height of the walls, it is manifest that they serve tofstrengthen and reinforce the latter. The handle can be constructed of any suitable material, but is also preferably made of cardboard, and if desired, the cross member 24 can be strengthened and made rigid by a reinforcing strip of suitable material, preferably wood. The strip is indicated vat 26 and is secured to the handle in any suitable manner as at 2'7.V

Y The basket is provided with a cover 28 preferably constructed of cardboard and'ch'ar'acterized with side and end flanges V29. The cover is constructed to neatly embrace the Walls of the basket, and is provided with a transverse slot 30 to receive the handle 24 whenthe cover is placed upon the basket. Obviously the handle projects through the slot 30 an appreciable distance above the cover so that the basket can be conveniently handled, while the construction is such that the cover can also be quickly and easily associated with or removed from the basket when desired, without any interference of the handle.

Various means may be employed for holding the cover fixed relatively to the basket, but I preferably employ bendable metallic strips 32 secured adjacent one end to the parallel members 25 of the handle. These strips are normally straight and received by the slot 30 of the cover, and after the latter has been properly positioned on the basket, the free ends of the strips are then bent over the sides of the cover against the adjacent flanges 29 thereof. The cover is thus held against movement, but can be easily removed by straightening thebent ends of the strips 32 aswill be readily understood.

The cover is` also constructed to be supported on the basket in a manner to allow the latter to be lled above the height of the walls thereof, and to prevent the cover from crushing or otherwise injuring the articles Apacked in the basket, more especially when the baskets are stacked' one upon the other. With this object in View the flanges 29 of the cover are provided With means of any suitable character for supporting the cover on the upper edges of the walls of the basket and at the same time allow the flanges to embrace said walls. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention I employ a ledge 31 for this purpose, which ledge is securedto the innerface of the cover flange 29 and properly positioned to repose upon the upper edges of the basket when the cover is properly placed upon the basket.

Whenthe basket is used for packing grapes or any articles with which use of the partitions are not required, the foldable partition supportingv flaps are arranged vertically to lie inw the same'plane with the extensions 15 of which they form part, and thereby occupy an outof-the-way position.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature land advantages of the invention will be-readily understood, I desire-to have it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein illustrated or described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired asfall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

A basket formed from a single blank of ma-` terial folded along spaced longitudinal and trans-v verse score lines to provide opposed side and end walls, foldable extensions carried by .said end walls and adapted to be secured to the inner faces of the adjacent side walls,-a removable partition dividing the basket into separate compartments, and foldable'flaps carried by said extensions of the end walls and adapted to be arranged within the basket to support said 

